Race for Los Angeles County sheriff looks competitive now: Editorial

The entrance of Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s race promises to turn what was an insiders’ race into a real competition.

Decades have gone by since there has been a truly competitive race for one of the most powerful law enforcement positions in the state.

There couldn’t be a better time. The department is besieged by scandal because of the failed leadership of outgoing Sheriff Lee Baca, who abruptly announced his resignation last week amid the indictment of 18 current and former sheriff’s deputies in December following an FBI investigation of jail inmate abuse.

The accusations came after years of complaints from civil rights advocates, former inmates and others who painted a culture of violence within the department.

It will take a strong leader at the helm of the organization to clean up the ranks and help undo what years of bad leadership let fester.

McDonnell is a strong candidate with solid credentials who is a cop’s cop, but it’s too early to know what solutions he could offer up.

The former second in command at the Los Angeles Police Department, McDonnell knows the region well and has already garnered some heavyweight support from several leaders, including current Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.

He’s well-versed in the problems. He was on a commission that slammed Baca for a pattern of excessive force at the jails and ignoring warnings from advocates and watchdogs. The panel called for swift action.

But McDonnell offers something as important: an outside view. That perspective has been long absent in the insular department that let its deputies engage in questionable behavior without serious oversight or punishment. It will make for an interesting race.

The Los Angeles County sheriff is not only in charge of the nation’s largest jail system, but has a high-profile seat where he or she can set the standard, bring innovation and lead the way in law enforcement nationally. Baca set a standard of disgrace.